Review Article

Competence Models as a Tool for Conceptualizing the Systematic Process of Entrepreneurship Competence Development

Table 2

Description of when and/or how expected competence levels advance in the EE competence models.

ModelEducational context and focus of the models for gradual developmentNotes

UK(1) Primary education: child-centered
(2) Secondary education: subject-centered
(3) Vocational education: skill-centered
(4) Higher education: discipline-centered
(1) Learners are approached on an individual basis. Foundation of entrepreneurial competencies is laid.
(2) Subjects connected with tasks requiring entrepreneurial competencies.
(3) Specific skills of learners related to business creation skills. Supporting learners to become self-employed.
(4) Additionally, learners obtain in-depth understanding of diverse aspects of entrepreneurship within their discipline.

USA(1) Basics
(2) Competence awareness
(3) Creative applications
(4) Start-up
(5) Growth
The first three are categorized as job training and the last two as job experience. The first two stages are for gaining an introductory understanding of entrepreneurship and enhancing basic entrepreneurial competencies, the 3rd stage is about gaining initial practical experiences related to entrepreneurship, and the last two stages are focused on evolving skills in managing and expanding a business.

Danish(1) Compulsory schooling
(2) Vocational education
(3) Upper secondary education
(4) Profession-based tertiary education
(5) Degree course
All core competencies are embedded in the core subject and curriculum, dividing the four competencies by skills and knowledge. The focus is on ensuring that the level of competence in core subjects gradually increases throughout the education system regarding innovation and entrepreneurial processes.

Nordic(1) Year 3: early years
(2) Year 6: intermediate years
(3) Year 9: leaving school
At all three stages, entrepreneurial competencies represent the ultimate goal and intended learning outcomes. All competencies other than personal resources are divided by skills and knowledge at all levels.

EU4 standard qualification levels further split into 8 sublevels
(1) Foundation: discover & explore
(2) Intermediate: experiment & dare
(3) Advanced: improve & reinforce
(4) Expert: expand & transform
The gradual development of entrepreneurship competence is based on 8 nonlinear proficiency levels. Value creation at all levels: (1) foundation: external support, (2) intermediate: increasing autonomy, (3) advanced: responsibility to transform ideas into action, (4) expert: driving information, innovation, and growth (reference domain). Note that when the first 3 levels can be applied to all citizens, the expert level is more context-dependent.

Source. UK model [39], USA model [34], Danish model [40], Nordic model [41], and EU model [37].